Polygamy is said to be legally recognised in more than 25 African countries.
But though the practice is not legalised in the rest of the continent, you still get situations where a man has more than one wife.
And so recently when an MP in Ivory Coast suggested a bill to legalise polygamy, it caused a commotion. And the debate continues.
He says if polygamy is legalised, women will be better protected.
However women’s rights groups argue this is not the case.
Today we are asking how is polygamy dividing opinion?
Host: Victoria Uwonkunda
Guests: Ivorian MP, Yacouba Sangare, BBC’s correspondent Lalla Sy and women’s rights activist Hala Al-Karib